PLANNING A SUSTAINABLE CITY: THE PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE OF PORTLAND'S URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY. IN: URBAN SPRAWL: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POLICY RESPONSES

Abstract

In 1973, Oregon passed legislation establishing the Portland area Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), a strategic planning tool that seeks to prevent sprawl by providing an efficient transition from rural to urban land use. This paper discusses the history, implementation and impacts of the UGB. The UGB is shown as fulfilling its original mission by creating a dual land market and placing obstacles in the way of urban development on farmland and forest. The density of new development has been increased and in-fill has been encouraged. As a result, Portland has been able to absorb population increases with minimal increase in urbanized area. However, the UGB has also increased housing prices, but the magnitude of this effect is unknown. The importance of the UGB as a powerful community symbol is also addressed: to opponents, it is a symbol of cultural elitism, while proponents see the UGB as a symbol of community willingness to sacrifice for the sake of sustainability. The UGB seems popular among voters in Oregon, who have rejected several efforts to abolish or weaken the system.

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